TEAM
THAT COULD SURPRISERUTGERS - The Scarlet
Knights are losing the best quarterback
in school history by the name of Mike
Teel and likewise two of the best receivers
in Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood.
Ergo, many of the early polls don’t
see this team in the Top 25 mix. However,
Rutgers does have one of the best offensive
and defensive lines in the conference.
Rutgers won their last seven games in
a row last fall. With some form of steady
quarterback play, that trend could easily
carry over to 2009.

TEAM
THAT COULD DISAPPOINTPITTSBURGH - Pitt was
considered to be a front-runner for
the Big East this fall and was also
expected to push for a Top 25 preseason
spot in the polls. Of course, that was
before running back LeSean McCoy left
early for the NFL. His replacement is
a battle between two freshmen and a
sophomore. QB remains in the same hands
with both Stull and Bostick but that's
not necessarily a good thing based on
the last two years and the horrible
3-0 Sun Bowl loss from December. The
offense has no identity at this point.
This season should not be a disappointment
by the Panther’s usual recent
standard, but many were pointing to
2009 as a year Coach Wannstedt’s
recruiting classes started to pay dividends.

CINCINNATISTRENGTHS:
QB Tony Pike came out
of nowhere last year to
lead one of the nation's
most explosive offenses.
He has an All-American
at receiver with Mardy
Gilyard who hauled in
over 1200 yards in receptions.
Gilyard also doubles as
one of the most gifted
kick return specialists
anywhere. This offensive
line is the deepest and
most gifted coach Brian
Kelly has worked with.
OT Jeff Linkenbach is
a premier Big East blocker.

CONCERNS:
The defense lost 10 starters!
What a major turnover,
especially with corners
Mike Mickens and DeAngelo
Smith now in the NFL.
They also bring in a new
defensive coordinator
in Bob Diaco. Touted prep
star (and former Notre
Dame QB) Demetrius Jones
moves to linebacker to
help bring some athletes
to this side of the ball.
The running game leaves
much to be desired (95th
nationally) and no one
ball carrier stands out.

PROGNOSIS:
It's hard to get a read
on Cincinnati with the
huge player turnover on
defense. They are coming
off a school record 11
victories and duplicating
that total is probably
not in the cards. This
time around the QB spot
at least seems settled
and promising with Tony
Pike. He will get solid
protection and the OL
should boost the running
game. The defense is switching
to a new 3-4 scheme and
there are no proven stars
on a usually stingy defense.
The offense is potent
enough to compete for
another Big East crown.
Coach Brian Kelly continues
to work wonders.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 9-3

CONNECTICUTSTRENGTHS:
Led by Scott Lutrus the
linebacking trio stacks
up with any in the conference
as all three starters
return. With so many quality
bodies lining up at receiver
the passing game has more
big play ability than
recent memory. The offensive
scheme under new coordinator
Joe Moorhead will move
to a fast paced no-huddle
direction that affords
the playmakers at receiver
to make a much bigger
difference.

CONCERNS:
First, the QB battle has
not been settled between
Zach Frazer and Cody Endres.
Former QB Tyler Lorenzen
exemplified the gritty
style of this team that
now shifts to a completely
different approach. Replacing
the nation's leading rusher
Donald Brown at RB is
obviously a difficult
chore. There is no workhorse
like him currently on
the roster. Two All-Big
East performers are gone
at offensive tackle. The
front four on defense
was a strength last fall
but now gets totally retooled.
The secondary in particular
is a huge concern according
to coaches where a trio
of freshman will contend
for playing time.

PROGNOSIS:
The Huskies have spent
the past few seasons hanging
around the conference
race but failed to win
key games in order to
take the title. Doing
the same in 2009 would
be a huge surprise given
the major holes. They
will operate with a new
QB (still undecided),
a new RB, a new offensive
scheme and there are big
questions in the trenches...not
a good formula. The two
best players in RB Donald
Brown and CB Darius Butler
are gone. UConn has finished
higher in the final polls
than most people usually
predict which is a sign
of good coaching. The
non-conference schedule
is difficult (UNC, Baylor,
Notre Dame). Expect UConn
to take a step back in
2009.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 5-7

LOUISVILLESTRENGTHS: The
running game will be the
team strength with Victor
Anderson in the backfield.
One of the top rushers
in the league, Anderson
is only going to be a
sophomore. The receiving
corps has all its starters
back and is led by Doug
Beaumont who was fourth
in the Big East in receptions.
They give this offense
an ability to stretch
the field, which will
only help the power game.
Headlined by senior Jon
Dempsey, the linebackers
are all back, but that
may be the only good news
on defense.

CONCERNS:
Five different QBs are
in contention for the
starting role and the
spring offered no relief
in terms of finding a
replacement for Hunter
Cantwell. A starter likely
won't be named until Labor
Day weekend for the opener.
Two All-Big East performers
are gone on the OL in
longtime stalwarts Eric
Wood and George Bussey.
A young, inexperienced
DL will have to grow quickly.
This defense was extremely
porous last fall.

PROGNOSIS:
This could be a make-or-break
season for third year
head coach Steve Kragthorpe
after missing the post-season
in his first two attempts.
The QB quandary is one
big mess and is a huge
factor as to the Louisville
plight. The rapid pressure
has gotten so tight on
Kragthorpe that six new
coaches are on staff after
a major house cleaning.
The defense was so inadequate
across the board last
year that new defensive
coordinator Brent Guy
cannot be expected to
work miracles right off
the bat. After the FCS
opponent home opener,
the Cardinals won't catch
a break on the schedule
until Halloween. The issues
loom large and another
less than mediocre season
may be this coaching staff's
last.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 4-8

PITTSBURGHSTRENGTHS:
Pitt will win with defense.
A ton of playmakers are
on board including two
quality defensive ends
in Greg Romeus and Jabaal
Sheard. They are good
enough to apply solid
pressure without the need
to blitz. Both sides of
the line of scrimmage
look good on paper, although
the OL had some issues
this spring that should
be fixed by fall. Senior
Aaron Berry is a top quality
corner. The tight end
spot is one of the best
positions on offense with
All-Big East performer
Nate Byham and backup
Dorin Dickerson, both
are seniors.

CONCERNS:
This could have been a
Top 25 team had LeSean
McCoy not bolted early
for the NFL. Now the RB
spot gets filled with
two freshman and others
from parts unknown. QB
remains in the same hands
with both Stull and Bostick
but that's not necessarily
a good thing based on
the last two years and
the horrible 3-0 Sun Bowl
loss that finished '08.
While the defense looks
strong they will need
to find another tackling
machine to replace those
services MLB Scott McKillop
leaves behind.

PROGNOSIS:
Pitt will contend for
coach Wannstedt's first
Big East title based on
the strength of the defense.
But at some point the
offense has to carry some
of the load. A consistent
passing game is sorely
missing with the same
two quarterbacks and who
takes over to help the
running game is a wild
guess. With 15 starters
returning (the most in
the league), they have
a shot. A tough schedule
to close the season includes
Notre Dame, WVU and Cincinnati.
Ergo, look for Pitt to
sit near the top of the
standings heading into
November. Maybe by then
the offense can find an
identity and win one of
the final two to claim
the conference crown.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4

RUTGERSSTRENGTHS:
The offensive line returns
all five starters and
nine of the ten blockers
on the two-deep depth
chart. OT Anthony Davis
has potential to be a
future first round draft
pick. The depth at running
back is impressive with
four players that saw
time a year ago returning.
The depth and size on
the DL is about the best
Rutgers has seen in a
long time. LB Ryan D'Imperio
and DE George Johnson
are poised for big seasons.

CONCERNS:
Gone is the best QB in
school history with Mike
Teel. Seniors Domenic
Natale (best arm) and
Jabu Lovelace (best feet)
take over behind center
and hold the keys to how
good the Scarlet Knights
can be. Also gone are
two of the best receivers
ever in Kenny Britt and
Tiquan Underwood. This
means that Tim Brown,
who has been waiting his
turn, takes the spotlight.
But there is a shortage
of qualified players around
him on the outside. Head
coach Greg Schiano finally
gives up his dual role
as defensive coordinator…a
spot that he has held
since 2005.

PROGNOSIS:
Can Rutgers win its first
ever Big East title? Not
likely depending on what
kind of play they get
with a new QB. Rutgers
won't be as bad as many
people think though despite
losing Teel, Britt and
Underwood in their offensive
arsenal because they have
potential on defense and
the offensive line appears
to be stellar. The top
rated talent in 2009 is
not as glaring as it was
in 2008 where the brutal
start of the season killed
this squad. But Rutgers
won their last seven games
in a row, which carries
a ton of optimism heading
into the fall. Newly found
expectations however,
can begin to irritate
the fans if the QB position
fails to produce.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5

SOUTH FLORIDASTRENGTHS:
George Selvie is everyone's
First Team All-American
at defensive end. The
sack monster is good enough
to disrupt any offense
single-handed. Four-year
starter Matt Grothe is
back for his finale at
QB. He has led the team
in rushing for three straight
seasons and he has a large
array of quality receivers
at his disposal in Jessie
Hester and A.J. Love.
USF is going to operate
with more of a spread
look offense in '09 and
they have all the skill
position tools to make
it work big time.

CONCERNS:
The offensive line is
in shambles. Gone are
four full-time starters
plus big tight end Cedric
Hill and injuries have
wreaked major havoc all
spring. Newcomers had
better play a huge role.
USF will be the only team
in the Big East with a
new offensive and defensive
coordinator. The running
backs are far too talented
to be left behind in this
offense, as has been the
case since Grothe has
been here.

PROGNOSIS:
While the Bulls will not
enter the season ranked,
they will be by the time
they head off to Tallahassee
to face FSU in the fourth
week due to a pitiful
non-conference slate.
This is just what the
Tampa doctor ordered,
as the offensive line
needs a ton of work to
be respectable. The offensive
skill positions are as
good as any coach Leavitt
has worked with. Matt
Grothe is primed to break
most of the Big East QB
records held by Pat White
but he needs to stop forcing
things and let the skilled
athletes around him do
more. Sunshine State speed
will continue to make
this defense rank in the
top 30 nationally as it
has the past five of six
seasons.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4

SYRACUSESTRENGTHS:
For the first time in
many moons the Orange
actually has some legitimate
Big East talent at the
offensive skill positions.
Three running backs (Carter,
Bailey and Collier) have
distinguished themselves
where they each will play
a role. The return of
Mike Williams at receiver
is huge after sitting
out because of academic
problems. He is the closest
thing to a star player.
The rushing defense was
not actually that bad
last fall and defensive
tackle Arthur Jones is
All-American caliber.

CONCERNS:
Redshirt frosh Ryan Nassib
has won the QB job for
now unless Duke hoops
transfer Greg Paulus can
wrestle it away. The passing
game is no threat with
either. The No. 1 concern
is with the pass defense
after giving up 27 touchdown
passes last fall in a
year where Big East QB
play was not so grand.
Doug Marrone has been
hired in the latest attempt
to find someone capable
of resurrecting the program.
He has no head coaching
experience whatsoever
and eight players quit
this spring.

PROGNOSIS:
Syracuse is so far behind
in terms of talent numbers
that it will obviously
take more than one or
two years to see the light
at the end of the tunnel
if ever. They can ill-afford
the injury bug to creep
into the fall and the
‘Cuse is still not
set at the most important
position of QB where a
frosh likely takes over.
While the season ahead
has potential to be a
better effort with improved
ball carriers and receivers,
it's a far cry from getting
anywhere near the .500
level. If the leaky secondary
does not make any strides
the record won't either.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 3-9

WEST VIRGINIASTRENGTHS:
RB Noel Devine is making
fans forget about Steve
Slaton. His burst of speed
is good enough to take
him for six points every
time he touches the ball.
People might assume that
since Pat White is finally
gone that WVU will struggle
at QB. That's not the
case as senior Jarrett
Brown is one of the most
underrated signal callers
after having to ride the
pine for so long. The
receivers are stacked
led by Jock Sanders and
6'8 Wes Lyons who has
potential to be a physical
stud. The defense is loaded
with players, more so
than former coach Rich
Rodriguez ever had. The
front seven has huge potential
especially at linebacker.

CONCERNS:
The offensive line lost
all but one starter although
the WVU faithful says
that may not be a bad
thing. But it's certainly
an unknown commodity.
The depth behind Brown
at QB is slim to none.
The secondary made huge
improvements as last season
progressed. Safety Quintin
Andrews has left the team
and there is still plenty
of room to grow. Replacing
now-NFL kicker/punter
Pat McAfee should be an
interesting adventure.

PROGNOSIS:
WVU is usually synonymous
with offense and running
out of the spread. They
won't get the same QB
rushing results out of
Jarrett Brown as this
offense under second year
coordinator Jeff Mullen
continues to move toward
a more pass oriented approach.
This offense still has
all the tools to be the
best in the conference.
Defense is the cry for
2009 and this front seven
with super quality LB
play is going to make
life tough on opponents.
The Mountaineers won't
come in ranked to start
the season but they will
finish here. WVU is going
to surprise people based
on the lower preseason
rankings, something new
in Morgantown.

PROJECTED
RECORD: 10-2

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